Quick disconnect coupling for power cables



N0V- 13, 1951 J. w. ANDERSON ETAL v 2,574,456

QUICK DISCONNECT COUPLING FOR POWER CABLES Filed July 8, 1949 2SHEETS-SHEET l v 3 k y INVENToRs A?TORNEYS NOV. 13, 1951 J. w. ANDERSONET A1. 2,574,456

QUICK DISCONNECT COUPLING FOR POWER CABLES Filed July 8. 194s 2SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented Nov. 13, 1951 QUICK DISCONNECT COUPLING FORPOWER CABLES .lohn Wallen Anderson, Westiield, and Jean WillardHamilton, Montclair, N. J., assignors to Airtron, Inc., Linden, N. J., acorporation of New Jersey `Application .l'uly 8, 1949, Serial N o.103,646

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a quickly disconnectable connecting device forpower cables or the like.

An important object of the invention is the provision of such a devicein which the contacts between the connected conducting parts arepositive and are rmly locked against unintentional separation orbreaking of the connection.

Another important object is the provision of such a device in which theconnected cable portions may swivel freely in relation to each otherwhile the connection between the cable portions is positive and iseffectually safeguarded against unintended separation.

Another important object is the provision of such av device in which theconnected cable portions, although securely locked together againstunintentional separation, nevertheless may be quickly separated bysimple manipulation or shifting of a single element of the device in onedirection. l

Another important object is the provision of such a device in which themeans for locking a cable end into a connection member are locatedentirely within the latter so thatl such cable locking means may not becontacted or released from the exterior of the device, and in which suchlocking means may be arranged so that the cable end cannot be releasedexcept by substantially disassembling the connection member.

Another important object is the provision of such a device havingcircumferentially contractable means for firmly contracting a somewhatresilient contact sleeve upon a contact nger telescoped therewithin toeffect a positive conduction connection between the two.

Another object is the provision of such a device which includes meansfor assuring that connection will be established only between` certaincable leads which are intended to be mated.

Another important object is the provision of such a device in whichthere are no removable partsl which could become lost or mislaid;thereby affording assurance that the connection assembly is always readyfor connection or disconnection without reference to any elements notdirectly associatedy therewith.

The foregoing and other objects are accomplished by means of the presentinvention of which, for illustrative purposes and without limiting theinvention thereto, a single embodiment is disclosed in the followingdrawings in which- Figure 1 is an elevational view of a quicklydisconnectable connecting device according to the present invention,including a fragmentary portion of a panel upon which one of twoconnection members is mounted.

Fig. 24 is a View of the principal parts of the device in their fullydisconnected condition, which view, for the mostv part, is in axialVsection but in the upper half of which some of the parts are shown inelevation.

Fig. 3 is a View of the device largely in elevation but partly incentral axial section, the parts being shown in their positions. asduring a first step in establishing connection between two connectionmembers.

Fig. 4 is a view substantially like that of Fig. 3 with the parts shown,however, in fully connected condition.

Fig. 5 is a cross-'sectional View oi one connection member substantiallyon the line 5,--5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the same connection membersubstantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

As may best be understood from Fig. 2, a connecting device according to:the present invention may compriseV a male connection member generallyindicated at I2 and a female connection member generally indicated ati4. The male connection member: l2 preferably is mounted uponv av panel,of which a fragmentary portion It is shown with the male connectionmember aixed thereto; but such panel mounting is not essential.

The male connection member l2 comprises a contact linger I8 having a.metal washer 29 of fairly substantial thickness secured thereto by adowel pin 22 which preferably extends radially completely; through boththe washer 29 and the contact member i8. This washer abuts against ashoulder 24 dening one end of an intermediate portion 26 of the contactfinger of increased diameter.

Surrounding the intermediate portion 2t is a mounting flange, 28.. ofsuitable insulating material, heldY securely betweenv the outer marginalportion of the Washer 20;, and a second shoulder 36 of the contactiinger, which shoulder constitutes an inner face of a radial end ange 32of said finger. The mounting ange 28 is preferably provided with a metalreinforcing plate 34 which isspaced from and insulated from all currentconducting partsof the device; and plural bolts 36 with nuts 38 areemployed in a well understood4 manner toV rmly secure the mounting ange23 and, with it, the entire male connection member l2 to the panel I6..

A stud bolt 4U is'threaded into a threadedaxial bore 42 formed in theradial flange end of the contact linger I8 and extending within theenlarged intermediate portion of said finger; and the said stud bolt ispreferably firmly held therein by a suitable jam pin or set screw 44which extends radially inwardly from the exterior of the intermediateportion 26 of the contact finger and into jamming association with thethread of the bolt 40. The outer end face 46 of the flange 32 affords asubstantial contact surface for enlgagement with a cable lug 48 which isfirmly held between said face and a metal washer 50 by a nut 52.

The metal washer 20 preferably is formed with one or more axiallyextending tongues 54Whicl1 seat within complemental grooves or recesses56 in the mounting flange 28, thereby preventing rotation of any of theparts of the male connection member I2 relatively to the panel I6.

The principal part of the female connectionI member |4 is a currentconducting sleeve 58, preferably of tellurium copper or other highlyconductive metal which sleeve, as disclosed in the drawing, is formedwith an enlarged end portion 60 having a lateral bore 62 therein ofsuitable diameter for receiving, with a fairly close fit, a stripped end64 of a cable 66, the main portion of which preferably is insulated.Communicating with the lateral bore 62' is a threaded axial bore 68 inthe conducting sleeve and into the bore 68 is threaded a set screw 'l0formed with a semi-spherical end portion l2 at one end and a slot 'I4 atits other end.

Before association of other parts, hereinafter described, with thecurrent conducting sleeve 58, the set screw may be inserted from theopen right end of said sleeve (as viewed in Fig. 2) and by means of ascrew-driver, or other equivalent tool, inserted in the slot T4, the setscrew 10 may be driven leftwardly to embed the semi-spherical endportion 12 of the set screw into the stripped end 64 of the cable,thereby securing the latter firmly to the Current conducting sleeve. Adowel pin or set screw 'I6 or other suitable means is preferablyemployed to lock the set screw 'l0 firmly against unintentionalloosening.

The threaded bore 68, at its end remote from the bore 62, terminates atan outwardly extending shoulder I8 within the conducting sleeve 58. Fromthe shoulder 18 to the free end of the conducting sleeve, which is theright end as viewed in Fig. 2, said sleeve is in the form of a tube 80having a wall of substantially uniform thickness from one end to theother thereof. Within the tube 80 is a tubular index element 82 having aflange 84 which is seated firmly against the shoulder 18 and held thusseated by a dowel pin 86 which extends radially through bores in theflange 84 and in the wall of the tube 80. The ends of the dowel pin arepreferably upset to prevent displacement thereof.

The tubular, free end portion of the index element 82 preferably extendsto the free end of the tube 80 and is of lesser outer diameter than theinner diameter of the latter, thereby affording an annular space 88between the two. The index element 82 also s illustrated as formed witha longitudinal passage or bore 90 which may be circular incross-sectional conguration to receive therewithin an indexing pin 9| ofsubstantially complemental cross-sectional size and configuration,formed as an integral part of the contact finger |8, within an annularrecess 9|a in the left end of the latter, as it appears in the drawings.The provision of such complemental interfitting portions, only on cableconnection members intended to be mated, assures against mlsmating ofconnection members, which might lead to undesirable results. The bore 90and pin 0I may be of other complemental cross-sectional configurations,and, likewise, the inner surface o f the outer cylindrical wall of therecess Sla of the contact finger I8 and the outer surface of thetubular, free end of the index element 82 may be complemental, therebypermitting the provision of different mating configurations for each ofmany pairs of connection members.

As best seen in Figs. 5 and 6, longitudinally extending radial cuts orslits 92 are cut or otherwise formed in the tube and extend from thefree right-hand end of said tube, as it appears in Fig. 2, preferably tothe right-hand face of the flange 84 of the index element, the said cutsdividing the free end of the tube 80 into plural longitudinallyextending contact fingers 94. A contractile coil spring 96 encircles thefingers 94 toward their free ends, and is preferably disposed within anannular groove 98 in said fingers, the contractile force of the springholding it within the mentioned groove against unintended displacement.The spring 96 normally urges the free ends of the fingers 94 radiallyinwardly and also yieldably restrains outward flexing of said fingers.Thus, despite the fact that the sleeve 58 including its fingers 94 ispreferably formed of ktellurium copper which, while highly conductive,

is nevertheless of relatively low tensile strength and of lowresiliency, the spring 96, by preventing excessive outward flexing ofsaid fingers, safeguards them against breakage and assures that theywill always flex inwardly to the extent desired.

Means are provided for releasably locking the contact finger I8 intelescoping relationship within the fingers 94, the mentioned lockingmeans, as illustrated, consisting of a plurality of balls |00 associatedwith a plurality of the said fingers and arranged to seat releasablywithin an annular groove |02 in the contact finger. These balls aredisposed within apertures |04 in several of the fingers 94, and the saidapertures preferably are formed with an internal annular shoulderdefining an inner aperture portion |06 which is of lesser diameter thanthe ball. The balls |00, apertures |04, and the fingers 94 are soproportioned that when a ball is inserted in an aperture from the outerside of the finger, the inner aperture portion |06 limits the radiallyinward movement of the ball to its position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4,wherein the radially outermost surface of the ball is in axial alignmentwith the outer surface of the nger 94 and the innermost radial surfaceof the ball protrudes beyond the inner' surface of the said finger andto a substantial extent into the groove |02 in the contact finger I8.

A metal manually slidable locking sleeve |08 extends about theconducting sleeve 58. The sleeve |08 has a locking portion I|0 whichfits with a close but nevertheless sliding fit over the fingers 94 andnormally overlies the apertures |04 and the balls |00 carried therein tohold the balls in locking position. The locking sleeve |08 is formedwith an internal shoulder ||2 from which extends an integral cylindricalextension I4 which completely encircles and covers a helical compressioncoil spring I I6.

The spring II6 extends around the tube 80 with one of its ends seatedagainst the shoulder ||2 and its other end seated against a radialflange |I8 formed upon the exterior of the conducting sleeve 58 to urgethe locking sleeve nor-f mally rightwardly as viewed in the drawings.The locking sleeve |08 has a short counter-bore at its free endterminating in a shoulder |22 which extends from the inner surface ofthe counter-bore |20 to the inner cylindrical surface of the lockingportion IIIJ of the locking sleeve.. The outer diameter of the spring 96is greater than the inner diameter of the locking portion ||0, butslightly less than the inner diameter of the counter-bore I 20.

In assembling the female connection member I4, the spring HS is firstslid. over the free end of the conducting sleeve 58 into engagement withthe radial flange I I8 of the latter; then the balls |00 are placed. andheld in their respective apertures |04 While the locking sleeve |08 isslid over the free end of the conducting sleeve to bring the internalshoulder II2 of the locking sleeve into engagement with the end of thespring I I6. Then the locking sleeve |08 is urged leftwardly against thecompression of the spring I I6 sothat no portion of the locking sleeveoverlies the groove 98 in the current conducting sleeve. W ith the partsin that position the contractile spring 496 may be spread open somewhat,slid over the free end of the conducting sleeve, and snapped into thegroove 98. is released, the compressive force of the spring ||6 urgesvthe locking sleeve rightwardly to a 1 point at which its interiorshoulder |22 abuts the inner coil of the spring 96 which limits furtherrightward movement of the locking sleeve and retains that sleevepositively in its association with the other parts of the device.

A jacket 20 of rubber or other suitable insulating material ispreferably molded upon the enlarged end portion 00 of the currentconducting sleeve and this jacket preferably is formed with a sleeve|20, whi-ch may overlap and surround the end portion of the insulationof the cable 66, and the said jacket also preferably is formed with asecond sleeve |28 which extends to the radial flange I I8 of the currentconducting sleeve and partly underlies the extension II4 of the lockingsleeve.

A jacket |30 of rubber or other suitable insulating material ispreferably molded and bonded upon the locking sleeve |08. This jacketpreferably completely covers the locking sleeve and extends completelyfrom the left end thereof as viewed in Fig. 2 substantially beyond ytheright end of said locking sleeve to provide an overhang |32 whichnormally projects beyond the free end of the current conducting sleeve58 to protect the latter from damage when disconnected. The jacket |30preferably is formed with a pair of annular beads or flanges |34 toserve as a nger grip to facilitate manual sliding of the locking sleeve.

The operation of the device may best be understood from Figs. 2 4,inclusive. Assuming that the connection members |2 and I4 are separated,the male connection member I2 iixedly mounted upon the panel I6, and theparts of the female connection member I4 in their positions as shown inFig. 2, the first step in assembling the two connection members is tograsp the female connection member I4, preferably with the jacket |24 inthe palm of the hand and with two fingers of that h-and at oppositesides of the jacket |30 and overlying one or the other of the beads orflanges |34. Then, by a squeezing motion of the hand the locking sleeve|08 is moved leftwardly as and to the extent indicated Then, when thelocking sleeve |08V free to move radially into the counter-bore |20.

thus leaving the interior of the tube 80, and.

more particularly the inner surfaces of the lingers 94 constituting thattube, entirely clear for reception therewithin of the contact nger I0.

While the user holds the locking sleeve in its leftward position asshown in Fig. 3, the female connection member I4 is pushed completelyonto the contact linger I8, after which the user releases the lockingsleeve |08 from his grasp, whereupon it slides rightwardly under theforce of the compression spring I 0, bringing the parts to theirpositions shown in Fig. 4, wherein the locking portion H0 of the lockingsleeve is in a position surrounding the several balls |00, therebyholding the latter rmly in their respective apertures |04 with the innersurfaces of said balls seated within the groove |02. In this conditionof the apparatus, the male and female members cannot be separatedbecause of the interlocking effect of the balls within the groove |02.

A very convenient feature inherent in this structure resides in the factthat although the several parts are firmly interlocked in theirconnected conditions, nevertheless a single simple movement suffices torelease and separate the parts to eiect a complete disconnection of theconnected cable elements. Thus, with the parts in their connectedpositions as shown in Fig 4, one need only grasp the jacket I 30 at oneor both of the beads |34 and pull that jacket and with it the lockingsleeve |08 leftwardly as viewed in the drawing. In actual operation aperson performing this leftward movement would really be pulling thementioned jacket and sleeve toward himself.

vThe described leftward or pulling movement brings the jacket |30 andthe locking sleeve |08 back to their positions as shown in Fig. 3, thusunlocking the balls |00 so that continuation of the same movement in thesame direction serves to pull the female member from its position overthe male member. During this movement, as the depth of the groove |02 isless than the radius of the ball |00, a side wall of said groove pushesthe balls |00 laterally outwardly into the then radially-alignedcounter-bore |20 of the locking sleeve so that they no longer have anylocking association with said groove.

It may be understood from the foregoing that a connecting deviceaccording to the present invention affords a very eifective locked,swiveling connection between cable members and that while the contactmaintained between those members is a positive contact which results inelcient conduction, the connected cable members may be quicklydisconnected by a single pull exerted upon one of those members in onedirection. It should also be obvious from the foregoing description thatconnecting devices according to this invention accomplish very'effectively all the objects hereinbefore set forth.

It should also be observed that only one illustrative form of theinvention has been disclosed and described herein and that, although inthe foregoing specification certain alternative structures have beensuggested, nevertheless those suggestions have been made Without in anyway limiting the invention thereto. On the contrary, it should beobvious that a connecting device according to the present inventiveconcept may involve numerous m'odication'sV of' 'variations' withoutdeparting from the invention as defined in the following claims.

`What we claim is:

1. A cable connection comprising a sleevelike female connection memberadapted for electrically-conductive association with a cable portion, astud-like male connection member adapted for electrically-conductiveassociation with another cable portion and proportioned to telescopeinto said female member with a close electrically-conductive contacttherewith, an aperture in the wall of said female member, an exteriorannular recess in said male member, the said aperture and recess beingso located in their respective members as to be in radial alignment whenthe two members are substantially intertelescoped, a non-deformablelocking element, in said aperture, of a radial diameter greater than thethickness of the wall of the female member at said aperture, a slidablelocking sleeve extending about said female member and having a lockingportion which, in one position of the locking sleeve, closely overliessaid aperture to hold said locking element in a radially innermostposition wherein it extends within said recess in the male member whenthe connection members are telescoped, to prevent untelescoping thereof,and said locking sleeve having a release portion which, in anotherpostion to which the locking sleeve may be slid, overlies said aperturein radially spaced relation thereto in which said locking element isfree to move radially outwardly to withdraw from said recess and therebypermit untelescoping of the two connection members.

2. A cable connection accordingr to claim 1, the said female membercomprising plural resilient fingers at least one of which is formed tohave such an aperture, the said locking element 8 being "a ball in saidaperture, the said locking sleeve having a counterbore toward one endconstituting said release portion, an interme' diate annular portionconstituting said locking portion and a shoulder between the saidrelease and locking portions, the said ngers having external groovesconstituting a circumferential groove in said female member intermediatethe free end thereof and the said aperture therein, a contractile springin said circumferential groove tending to urge said ngers radiallyinwardly, and constituting an abutment coacting with said shoulder tolimit axial movement of said sleeve toward the free ends of saidfingers, and resilient means, within said sleeve and toward the endthereof remote from said release portion, coacting with the femaleconnection member and with said sleeve to urge the latter toward itsmentioned limit of movement.

JOHN WALLEN ANDERSON. JEAN WILLARD HAMILTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,574,456November 13, 1951 JOHN WALLEN ANDERSON ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed Specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 8, list of references cited, under the heading UNITED STATESPATENTS add the following:

1,266,441 F inkelsten May 14, 1918 and that the said Letters Patentshould be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to therecord of the casein the Patent Oliioe.

Signed and sealed this 4th day of March, A. D. 1952.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Gommz'ssz'oner of Patents.

